We continue to look at the False Prophet (Rev. 13:12-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 08/20/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Continued look at 2^nd beast

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 13:12-13

 

            Message of the verse:  “12  He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed.  13  He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men.”

            This second beast, the false prophet, will have the authority of the first beast, the antichrist.  He is going to be like a puppet to the first beast.  One of his jobs will be to cause the “earth dwellers” to worship the first beast and one of the ways to get their attention will be to perform signs so that these earth dwellers will believe that these two beasts have actually come from God or in fact are god.  As stated before these two are a part of the unholy trinity, with the Devil making up the third part, and that the false prophet was going to imitate the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit does His work to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and in a sense this is what this false prophet is doing for antichrist.  Satan is not original, but has always wanted to be like God Himself. 

            When Jesus was upon the earth the Pharisees would ask Him on more that one occasion to perform a sign to prove who He was and He would not do it.  This false prophet will perform signs to show the world who the antichrist and he are and the world will follow them all the way into hell.  2 Thessolonians 2:9-12 gives more insight into the signs the false prophet will perform:  “9  This evil man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles.  10  He will use every kind of wicked deception to fool those who are on their way to destruction because they refuse to believe the truth that would save them.  11  So God will send great deception upon them, and they will believe all these lies.  12  Then they will be condemned for not believing the truth and for enjoying the evil they do.”

           

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am again thinking about the term “earth dwellers” knowing that those who choose to not accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will love this earth as their only home and miss out on the opportunity to live with the Lord Jesus Christ forever.  I must be aware of the pull of the attractions that this world has to offer and flee from them. 1John 2:15 sums this up:  “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.”

 

The Word of God was both convicting and challenging to my heart today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord in the trials that we are going through even though things are not happening the way that I would like for them to be happening.